MLB Player News

Vazquez (elbow) was placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Since Vazquez's DL stint was backdated to March 25, the Red Sox can bring the catcher back on the 25-man roster as soon as April 9. However, it's unclear if the team will go that route, as Vasquez could probably benefit from some more at-bats in the minors after missing all of 2015 following Tommy John surgery.

The White Sox assigned Sanchez to minor league camp Saturday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

There was no room on the big league roster with both Dioner Navarro and Alex Avila in the fold, so Sanchez will report to Triple-A Charlotte.

Stassi (wrist) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

He is expected to miss at least the first month of the season after being diagnosed with a broken hamate bone in his left wrist a couple weeks ago. While Stassi is sidelined, Erik Kratz, whom the Astros acquired via trade on Monday, will serve as the backup to Jason Castro.

Casali will not be the starting catcher on Opening Day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 27-year-old easily outplayed veteran Hank Conger, but manager Kevin Cash decided to start Conger based on the matchup against Marcus Stroman. That being said, if Casali can keep up his .273 average beyond spring training, he could garner more starts as the season goes along.

Heineman was reassigned to minor league camp Monday.

Heineman hit .217 over 23 Grapefruit League at-bats and will likely report to Triple-A Fresno to open 2016.

Unless the Astros make a move for outside catching help, Pena is likely to open 2016 as the No. 2 catcher behind Jason Castro, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pena lacks experience above Double-A and is hitting just .192 over 28 Grapefruit League plate appearances. If he does open 2016 with the Astros, his stay in Houston may be short-lived, as it's widely assumed the team will make a move for outside catching help with Max Stassi (wrist) on the shelf until May at the earliest.

Gomes played in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday after being sidelined last week by an illness.

He homered in Saturday's game against the Reds, and should be ready to go as Cleveland's Opening Day catcher.

Leon was assigned to minor league camp Monday.

The moves comes as no surprise, as Leon was expected to start the year at the Triple-A level all along. He'll battle with Dan Butler, who was also reassigned Monday, for a potential call-up later in the year in the event of an injury or performance drop-off.

Vazquez (elbow) will begin the season on the disabled list.

Vazquez did not experience any issues related to his 2015 Tommy John surgery this spring, but he is apparently still completing his recovery, and will be eased into regular season action. He will be an option for the big club once the Red Sox determine he is back at 100 percent.

Casali has hit .316 and tallied four RBI over 19 exhibtion at-bats during 2016 spring training.

The third-year pro displayed some considerable pop at the plate last season, blasting 10 homers in just 101 at-bats. Casali has had a productive enough spring, but fellow backstop Rene Rivera has also been solid (.321 average over 28 at-bats). Veteran offseason acquisition Hank Conger has considerably struggled at the plate (.154 average) to date, and manager Kevin Cash has mused about the possibility of keeping three catchers on the major league roster in the season's early going, brightening Casali's prospects for the time being.